Developing and implementing programs for chronic disease prevention and management at the community level: A systematic review
1 Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Georgia, USA.
2 Department of Sociology, University of West Georgia- Carrollton, GA.
3 Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.
Review
International Journal of Frontline Research in Life Science, 2025, 03(01), 001-007.
Article DOI: 10.56355/ijfrls.2025.3.1.0021
Publication history:
Received on 01 January 2025; revised on 04 February 2025; accepted on 07 February 2025
Abstract:
Community Health Workers (CHWs) have evolved into strategically important adjunct members of the healthcare portfolio, providing key assistance in the care and management of chronic diseases in marginalized populations. This paper reviews the roles of CHW programs in improving health access, outcomes with dimensions of social utilization such as social determinants, and efficacy of CHW programs in providing health care. Our key findings revealed that CHWs offer culturally competent care, provide ongoing support, and help integrate themselves into the healthcare teams, all in support of chronic disease management. However, there are gaps in the research on different populations, there are limitations in program evaluations due to methodological restrictions, and finding sustainable funding models is still a challenge. This paper therefore urges a coordinated effort between policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to maximize the potential of CHW programs. Interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals is recommended, as are recommendations for comprehensive training for CHWs and supportive funding frameworks, along with further research to assess the long-term impact of CHW interventions., by adopting these forms of leadership, stakeholders will be able to nurture community health initiatives, create better outcomes for all populations, and enhance overall equity in the healthcare system.
Keywords:
Chronic diseases; Community level; Community Health Workers; Health initiatives; Community programs
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0